Hao Yan studied chemistry at Shandong University, China. He obtained his PhD in Chemistry under Professor N. C. Seeman, New York University in 2001. Following a period as an Assistant Research Professor at Duke University in the Computer Science department, he joined Arizona State University as Assistant Professor in Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in 2004. He became a Full Professor at Arizona State University since 2008. He is currently the Milton D. Glick Distinguished Professor in Chemistry and Biochemistry and Director of the Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics in the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University. The themes of his research are structural DNA nanotechnology and DNA-directed self-assembly.